Gun Safe questions

[TheGrey]

We are looking at the purchase of a gun safe. As we lost our gun-like objects in a dreadful Zepplin mishap, we simply have sticks that are the size and shape of firearms now- they’re just as dangerous, right? We’d like to corral all of ur sticks somehow, and contain them.


I have many n00b questions about gun safes, so please bear with me.

Is it best to keep all gun-shaped sticks together in one area?
All gun safes are not created equal, and the cats show no inclination of being able to best childproof locks we’ve placed on the cupboards. With no little humans in the house, is there a safe brand that is more desirable than the other? Some of them are really expensive! Yikes.
Is it better to have a fairly large gun safe to contain all of our fancy sticks, or should we have two or more safes for the variety we have? We have both long sticks and ‘L’ shaped sticks.
Is there a prime place to keep a gun safe? The basement floor is solid, as is the garage floor. The spousal unit thinks we should bolt it to the floor. Is that recommended?
What other information should I be asking about, and what else do I need to know about gun safes? I’d appreciate any and all information and guidance you’re willing to share. Thanks in advance!

[lex137]

A simple search will come up with quite a bit on the subject
https://www.ar-15.co/threads/131033-...ighlight=Safes
this is a good start!?!?

[SideShow Bob]

Bolted to the floor whether in the garage or basement.
Cons in the garage : large temperature swings, from frigid winter and hot summers could cause rusting of your sticks. High humidity in the winter if the garage is heated due to snow and slush melting off of vehicles. Easy access to your stick storage device from uninvited persons especially if the garage door is accidentally left open when you leave. And a high possibility of rusting out the bottom of the safe from Magchloride & salts from winter road treatments mixed in the snow and slush melting from vehicles.
Cons in the basement : it is hell getting a decent size safe into the basement if it has a tight 180* turn half way down.
Pros in the basement : a more temperature controlled environment. Out of sight to guests. Easier access to you for cleaning and fondling of the sticks.

Dont beleive the manufacturers number of sticks the safe will hold, cut that number by at least 1/3.
Buy a safe at least for 1/2 more than you think you will ever need.

And like anything else, you get what you pay for.

[Rooskibar03]

Always buy at least the next bigger size than you think you need, 2 sizes up if possible. Love my Liberty, just wish it was bigger.

[fly boy]

I bought a 51 gun safe.... had 10 guns in it, important papers, ammo, ammo cans, cleaning kits etc, and needed more room!!!!

do your research, it's an investment that is meant to last years. so a few thousand now is only $10-20 a month over the 10 years +, you will have that safe. But also considering what is going to happen if you are ever going to move. the 51-gun safe was 1,000 lbs. Any average dolly truck cannot handle that weight. Luckily the Air Force paid a moving company for me to move it.

/fly boys .02$

[MarkCO]

If I had it to do over, I would have dropped a FatBoy in the basement before the house was framed in. If you live in an urban area, the fire ratings don't matter much, and in fact they don't matter too much out in the country. Have a second, smaller, safe near where you sleep might be a good idea depending on how you like things set up.

[rbeau30]

I prefer the people who would want what is in my stick safe to not even know it is there. ;-) If someone wants to get in it they will get in. You just have to make it hard to get inside (sides are the most vulnerable.

Colorado Safe Outlet treated me well.

[StagLefty]

My being in a lower income all I could afford was a Stack-On rifle cabinet with a pistol cabinet on top (buy bigger is good advice). Also being in a mobile home I lag bolted both to wall studs.
Not the desired answer but better than nothing.

[Lars]

Like these guys said, get bigger than what you need. I prefer basement over garage as it is out of sight out of mind. If your basement has a possibility of flood then just elevate the safe a little. I didn't bolt mine to the floor because it cannot be taken back up the stairs, mods had to be made and repaired to get it down there. It will stay with the house the next time I move. Liberty and Knox or some of the best, as well as the Browning safes. The debate about temp rating goes back and fourth. Mine is rated pretty high due to the fact that it is in the basement and if the fire ever did get bad enough and every thing fell it then maybe something might survive. The wife says that what is in the safe would be
the least of or worries, I beg to differ. Do your homework and shop around, safes are a huge investment. Good luck and I hope you have a few good friends to help you move it in. I'm not sure if they still offer it but Cannon safes used to promise that if anyone ever did manage to break into your safe that they would replace the contents.

[rbeau30]

Be sure you scrutinize who has the combo/key. too.

A safe is an extra layer of insurance.

I was a victim of an entire collection gone. Even though it was an inside job, I would never, ever be caught without a good safe. And only 2 people know the combo, and I can change it in 10 minutes.



Think about the total amount of your collection... Then set that number next to the price of a safe. I would gladly postpone my next purchase or two for a little extra layer of insurance.